Packing and aligning devices for pieces of candy

ABSTRACT

The packing and aligning device for pieces of candy comprising a receiving and feeding mechanism for bringing pieces of candy of square columnar hexahedron into alignment longitudinally thereof along the circumference of the mechanism by horizontal rotation of the mechanism and feeding pieces of candy to a feed channel extending tangentially of the mechanism; a takeout turret adapted to clamp the pieces of candy one by one together with packing paper and, while transferring the same along a first transfer path, to bend the packing paper; a relay transfer turret adapted to receive the pieces of candy from the takeout turret and change the direction of the clamped pieces of candy and transfer path, and while transferring the same, to fold the surplus ends of the packing paper to thereby finish packing; and an aligning and tranfer mechanism adapted to group by a specified quantity the packed pieces of candy received from the relay turret and align and transfer the same.

atet [191 June 24, 1975 PACKING AND ALIGNING DEVICES FOR PIECES OF CANDY Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-John Sipos Attorney, Agent, or FirmHolman & Stern ABSTRACT The packing and aligning device for pieces of candy comprising a receiving and feeding mechanism for bringing pieces of candy of square columnar hexahedron into alignment longitudinally thereof along the circumference of the mechanism by horizontal rotation of the mechanism and feeding pieces of candy to a feed channel extending tangentially of the mechanism; a takeout turret adapted to clamp the pieces of candy one by one together with packing paper and, while transferring the same along a first transfer path, to bend the packing paper; a relay transfer turret adapted to receive the pieces of candy from the takeout turret and change the direction of the clamped pieces of candy and transfer path, and while transferring the same, to fold the surplus ends of the packing paper to thereby finish packing; and an aligning and tranfer mechanism adapted to group by a specified quantity the packed pieces of candy received from the relay turret and align and transfer the same.

8 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures [75] Inventor: Akihiro Hatta, Sakai, Japan [73] Assignee: Tenchi Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha, [57] Sakai, Japan [22] Filed: Mar. 25, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 454,609

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 7, 1973 Japan 48-39877 [52] US. Cl. 53/234 [51] Int. Cl B65b 11/30 [58] Field of Search 53/209, 225, 232, 233, 53/234 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,885,910 1l/l932 Gwinn 53/234 X 2,954,655 10/1960 Seragnoli 53/234 3,797,198 3/1974 Fukuzaki 53/209 3,818,675 6/1974 Griner 53/234 X 5 5 5 i a z 2 Z SHEET PATENTED JUN 2 4 I975 SHEET PATENTEDJUN 24 ms SHEET Fig.8

7o 7o 69 70b 700 so PATENTEDJUN24 I975 ,890,756

SHEET 8 PATENTEDJUM24|915 3 0 755 SHEET 9 3 Fig. 11

Mill/1711A PACKING AND ALIGNING DEVICES FOR PIECES OF CANDY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a packing and aligning device for various kinds of candy of square columnar hexahedron such as caramels, etc., and more particularly to a device both for independently packing each piece of candy and for grouping and aligning a specified quantity of pieces of candy thus packed for a later step of process of filling a box with the specified quantity of candy.

Generally, a packing machine for packing such pieces of candy apiece is known, but operation for grouping and packaging the specified quantity of the packed candy in a box is mostly made by hand. And it often happens that packed pieces of cand break up apiece during grouping and packaging of the packed pieces of candy in a box, which fact makes the operation of packaging the candy in a box appreciably cumbersome, thus reducing operation efficiency. Furthermore, the packing operation by hand had the disadvantage that not only it requires the increased number of workers for the operation but also it is not recommendable from the hygienic point of view.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of this invention is to provide a packing and aligning device capable of packing pieces of candy apiece, grouping and aligning a specified quantity of the thus packed candy entirely automatically and speedily by a conveyor system.

Another object of this invention is to completely prevent breaking up of the packed pieces of candy during the subsequent grouping operation and to facilitate the operation for packaging the grouped pieces of candy in a box.

This invention comprises a rotary disk, said disk being designed to receive a number of pieces of candy of square columnar hexahedron on the surface of the horizontally rotating disk and to move the pieces of candy in centrifugal and rotating directions; a guide channel, said channel being arranged on the circumference of said disk and adapted to receive the candy on the disk longitudinally thereinto and to feed the same continuously to a feed channel, said feed channel which is formed in the side of the terminal thereof with an opening for taking out the candy and with a receiving space fronting said opening, said space being designed for receiving packing paper cut into a specified size, said terminal portion being further formed both on the underside and in the side opposite to said opening with a crossing path permitting the passage of the clamp portions of first clamping members transversing the channel while the members are clamping the candy that reached said terminal portion, said feed channel extending tangentially of said disk in succession to said guide channel and receiving longitudinally aligned pieces of candy from the guide channel and feeding the same to said terminal, packing paper feed device for unrolling a long roll of packing paper, feeding the same to the packing paper receiving space of said feed channel and cutting said cutting paper in specified lengths; a takeout turret, said turret having plural pairs of said first clamping members pivotally supported at equal spaces on the side circumference of a first turret base rotating at constant speed in the direction in which the members cross said feed channel, said turret having further a pair of first cam mechanisms that open and close each of said pairs of first clamping members by rotation of said base in the direction of rotation of the base, said turret operating that clamping member which advances ahead of the other clamping member in the direction of rotation of one of said cams while the clamping members are crossing the terminal portion of said feed channel, clamping the piece of candy positioned in the terminal portion of said feed channel together with the packing paper fed in front of said direction of rotation between the clamp portions of the clamping members and taking out said piece of candy from the feed channel and releasing the piece of candy together with said packing paper from said clamping by operating said clamping members by said pair of cams by the clamping members being rotated to a specified position; a first packing paper folding members for successively bending the surplus ends of packing paper over, and bringing the same into contact with, the four sides adjacent to the front side of the piece of candy facing the inner and outer circumferences and both sides of a first transfer path, said packing paper being brought into contact with the front side of the pieces of candy successively arranged along the inner and outer circumferences and both sides of the first transfer path and transferred along the path along which said turret clamps the piece of candy and transfers the same; a relay transfer turret, said transfer turret having plural pairs of second clamping members mounted at equal spaces on the side circumference of a second turret base rotating synchronously with said first turret base, said transfer turret having further a pair of second cam mechanisms that open and close said second clamping members by rotation of the second turret base and also impart reciprocating rotation of specified angle to said pairs of second clamping members, said turret facing the clamp portions of the second clamping members toward a second transfer path in succession to the first transfer path and rotating the same, said turret further causing the second clamping members to effect closing operation in a radial direction from the inner and outer circumferential sides of the first and second transfer paths at the point of connection of the first and second transfer paths at which said first clamping members release their clamping of that piece of candy, over the front side and four circumferential sides of which packing paper is folded and with which the paper is brought into contact, said turret furthermore causing the second clamping members to clamp the piece of candy by the outside of the packing paper, to make delivery operation of passing the piece of candy from the first clamping members to the second clamping members, to change the direction of the piece of candy by transferring the candy to the second transfer path and by imparting forward rotation of specified angle to the second clamping members, and to finally release the piece of candy from the clamp portions of the second clamping members at the terminal of the second transfer path by imparting opening action to the second clamping members; a swing member disposed on the outer circumference of the second transfer path and which swings in the direction of transfer of the second path and which folds a surplus end of packing paper toward the front side of the piece of candy, said end projecting behind the direction in which the piece of candy turned about by the aforestated forward rotation advances; a

second folding member, said folding member being disposed on the outer circumference of said second transfer path and being adapted to fold the other surplus end of the packing paper backwardly after said swing member finished folding and to fold the folded surplus ends jutting out on both folded sides of the packing paper of the piece of candy to thereby bring the folded surplus ends into contact with the piece of candy; and an aligning and transfer mechanism having a guide portion for receiving thereinto in a laterally aligned state the packed pieces of candy released from said relay transfer turret and having also a means to push and feed the pieces of candy onto the guide portion after grouping the same by specified quantity.

Thus, the invention makes it possible not only to carry out packing, grouping and aligning of pieces of candy for loading the same into a box on an entirely automatic basis but also to completely prevent the packed pieces of candy from breaking up loose while they are being grouped by specified quantities. And the packed pieces of candy grouped in specified quantities are aligned laterally and transferred to the next packing station.

Other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view, partly in longitudinal section, of an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly omitted, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the detail of the terminal portion of a feed channel;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a packing paper receiving member mounted at the terminal portion;

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the detail of a takeout turret;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a part of the turret;

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the detail of a relay transfer turret;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a part of the transfer turret;

FIG. 9 is a front view showing the detail of a first and a second transfer path portion;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the first transfer path portion;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views taken along lines XI-XI and XIIXII, respectively of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the second transfer path portion;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIX-XIV of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the sequence of packing of pieces of candy according to the characters I to V.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1 and 2, pieces of candy a are placed collectively in large numbers on the surface of a rotary disk 2 mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft 1 and rotating horizontally and having a gently conically inclined plane 2a. The pieces of candy a placed on the disk 2 are moved in the direction of rotation of the disk 2 while being moved both by gravity and by the centrif ugal force imparted by rotation of the disk toward the circumference 2b'of the disk 2 along the inclined plane 2a.

On the outer circumference of the disk 2 is formed a circular guide channel 3 made up of circumferential walls 3a and 3b and a rotary bottom plate 30, and on the inner circumferential wall 3a are formed an opening 3d and guide pieces 3e and 3f for introducing into the guide channel 3 the candy a on the disk 2 which is being moved in the direction of rotation of the disk 2 on the inner circumference of the wall 3a.

The rotary bottom plate 3 c is mounted on the top end of a cylinder shaft 6 supported through a bearing 5 on a machine frame 4 and is driven independently of the disk 2 in the same direction as the disk 2 and is designed to support the pieces of candy a introduced from on the disk 2 into the guide channel 3 in their longitudinal alignment along the circumferential walls 3a and 3b. The vertical shaft 1 is rotatably supported inside the cylinder shaft 6 through a bearing 7. The shaft 1 and the shaft 6 are provided on the lower portions (not shown) with torque transmitting means such as gears driven by a drive system. The inner circumferential wall 3a of the guide channel 3 is provided on the upper end with a flange-shaped portion 33 jutting out on the inside diameter of the channel 3, and the flange-shaped portion 3g is formed above the circumferential portion 2b of the rotary disk 2 and is useful for preventing another piece of candy a from being placed on the piece of candy a that is being transferred along the circumferential wall 3a.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the outer circumference of the rotary disk 2 is formed a feed channel 8 extending tangentially in succession to the guide channel 3 and the pieces of candy a which are transferred by the bottom plate 3c through the guide channel 3 are fed from the guide channel 3 into the feed channel 8.

The feed channel 8, as shown particularly in FIGS. 3 and 6, is provided in the side to the right of the feed terminal 8a in FIG. 2 with an opening 8b for taking out the candy a that reached the terminal and is further provided on the bottom plate of the channel 8 and on the side opposite to the opening 8b with a path 8c that permits the passage of the clamp portions of first clamping members therethrough which transverse the channel 8 at the terminal 8a and which members will later be described, and the pieces of candy a which are fed from the guide channel into the path 8c in their longitudinal alignment are pushed through the supply path 8 by the succeeding pieces of candy a and reach the terminal portion 8a.

On the other hand, packing paper 'b that individually packages pieces of candy a is used in the form of a long sized strip wound on a reel supported on a portion (not shown) in FIG. I, and is unrolled by a pair of delivery rolls 10 through a guide roll 9 and is further fed by a pair of delivery rolls 11 into a packing paper receiving portion 12 fixed to the outside of the opening 8b of the feed channel 8. While the paper is being fed, it is cut into a specified size by a cutter 13 disposed between the rolls l0 and the rolls 11.

The cutter I3 is related with a drive mechanism (not shown) so as to be actuated synchronously with a transfer speed of candy a in the transfer course to be later described and the rolls and 11 are also specified in their delivery speed. a

As shown particularly in FIGS. 4 and 6, the packing paper receiving portion 12 is provided on both side edges and on the lower edge with a guide edge 12a and a bearing portion 12b which guide and receive the packing paper fed out from delivery rolls and cut into a required size and is further provided with an opening 12c and a slit 12d, said opening 12c permitting the passage of the candy a taken out from thhe channel 8 and said slit 12d permitting the passage of the clamping members therethrough. The packing paper receiving portion 12 is fixed to the outside surface of the opening 8b of the feed channel 8. Namely, the packing paper b cut into a specified size is positioned in front of the direction of transfer of candy a by the paper b being received into the receiving portion 12, said direction of transfer being later described.

A takeout turret 15 which clamps the candy a, that reached the terminal end 80 of the feed channel 8, together with the packing paper b that was caused to front the candy a in the direction of transfer of candy a, and which transfers the same through a first transfer path 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and more particularly in FIGS. 5 and 6, includes a first turret base 18 mounted through a key 17a and rotated by a shaft 17, said shaft being rotated at constant speed by the drive mechanism 16 within the device of the invention, plural pairs of first clamping members 19 and 20 pivotally supported at equal spaces in the circumferential side of the turret base 18, and first cam mechanisms 21 and 22 operating said members 19 and 20 by rotation of the turret base 18.

One member 19 of the first clamping members 19 and 20 has its base portion 19a fixed through a key 24a to the end of a cylinder shaft 24 rotatably supported on the turret base 19 through a bearing 23, and the cylinder shaft 24 has the base 25a of a roller arm 25 fixed to the other end of the shaft 24 through a key 24b and rolls a roller 26 mounted pivotally to the end of the roller arm 25 into contact with the circumference of one cam 21 of the first cam mechanism 21 and 22 and is designed to cause the member 19 to swing and rotate arcuately around the shaft 24 under the control of the cam 21 by rotation of the turret base 18.

The other member 20 of the clamping members is fixed through a key 27a to one end of a shaft 27 inserted through the inner hole of the cylinder shaft 24 and rotatably supported, said shaft 27 having a base 28a of the other roller arm 28 fixed through a key 27b to the other end of the shaft 27 to bring a roller 29 pivotally supported on the end of the roller arm 28 into engagement in the grooved cam 22 of the cam mechanisms 21 and 22 to thereby cause the member 20 to be swung and rotated arcuately under the control of the grooved cam 22 by rotation of the turret base 18. There is provided an extension spring 30, as shown, between the members 19 and 20, said spring 30 assuring rolling of the roller 26 into contact with the circumferential surface of the cam 21. The cam mechanisms 21 and 22 are fixedly supported on the frame 4 of the invention, though not shown, and support the end of the rotating shaft 17 of the turret base 18 through a bearing 31.

In this manner, the first clamping members 19 and 20 can open and close their clamping pawls 19b and 20b with respect to each other by the clockwise rotation of the turret base 18 (FIG. 1) while the opening and closing are being controlled by the cam mechanisms 21 and 22 in conjunction with the rotation of the base 18.

The opening and closing operation described above is carried out in such a manner that, in the clockwise rotation of the turret base 18, one member 19 of the first clamping members 19 and 20 is designed to be moved to a prostrated position so as to permit the passage of its clamp pawl 19b below the feed channel 8 by the roller 26 of the member 19 riding on a high portion 21a of the cam 21 before the pawl 19b reaches the position in which it crosses the feed channel 8 and that, when the pawl 19b passed the underside of the feed channel 8, the roller 26 pressed by the spring 30 into rollable contact with the circumference of the cam passes over the inclined plane 21b of the cam 21 and is rolled into contact with the low portion 210 in the position in which the cylinder shaft 24 reached substantially immediately below the feed channel 8 and then the member 19 which was in its prostrated position up to that time is moved into its upright position as shown.

The other member 20, the roller 26 of which is already in the high portion 22a of the grooved cam 22, is advancing clockwise in its upright position and faces its clamp pawl 20b toward the crossing path of the feed channel 8 in the position in which the shaft 27 reached substantially immediately below the feed channel 8 and comes in contact with the rear side surface of the candy a in the transfer direction of the candy.

Accordingly, the pawl 19b which was once projected forwardly of the direction of transfer of candy a is reversed in direction and reinstated in a counterclockwise direction by shift of the member 19 into its upright position, and the packing paper b on the front side of the candy a is brought into contact with the candy 0 so as to clamp the candy a and the paper b between the pawls 20b and 19b of the members 20 and 19 in the state of the candy a and packing paper b being kept in contact with each other. The clamping power in this case is given by the spring 30.

The candy a and packing paper b thus clamped between the first clamping members 19 and 20 are transferred along the first transfer path 14 by the members 19 and 20 while the packing paper b is being folded by the first folding member that will later be described.

When the candy a with its four sides brought into contact with the packing paper b folded is transferred to the terminal position of the first transfer path 14, one member 19 of the first clamping members 19 and 20, because the roller 26 of the member 19 rides onto the high portion 21a from a stepped portion 21d of the cam 21, is rotated clockwise around the cylinder shaft 24 against the action of the spring 30, while the other member 20, because its roller 29 falls into the low portion 22c after passing the stepped portion 22d of grooved cam 22, is rotated counterclockwise around the shaft 27. Accordingly, the clamp pawls 19b and 20 are separated from each other and release the clamped candy a.

In the first clamping members 19 and 20 that unclamped the candy a, one member 19 is caused to gradually change its position to prostration by the roller 26 of the member 19 being transferred along the circumference of the high portion 21a of the cam 21 by further clockwise rotation of the first turret base 18, and the other member 20 is brought back to its upright position by the roller 29 of the member being transferred to the high portion 22a of the cam 22 through the stepped portion 22d of the grooved cam 22. Namely, plural pairs of first clamping members 19 and 20 bring pieces of candy a and packing paper b into contact with each other and clamp them in the terminal portion 821, said pieces of candy a and packing paper being successively fed to the terminal portion 8a of the feed channel 8 by rotation of the base 18, transfer the same along the first transfer path 14 and unclamp the same in the terminal portion of the path 14.

Both on the inner and outer circumferences and on both sides of the first transfer path 14 are disposed first folding members 32, 33 and 34, 35 which form the transfer path 14 and which fold the packing paper b brought into contact with the front side of the candy a over, and bring the same into contact with, the four sides of the candy a facing the inner and outer circumferences and both sides of the path 14 while the candy a is being transferred along the path 14.

The members 32 and 33 are disposed on the inner and outer circumferences of the path 14, while the members 34 and 35 are disposed on both sides of the path 14. The members 32, 33 and 34, 35 are fixed by holders 36 and supported and fixed by brackets 37 to the frame 4 of the device so that the candy a clamped together with the packing paper b by the first clamping members 19 and 20 may be transferred between the members 32, 33 and 34, 35.

The members 32, as shown particularly in FIGS. 9 through 12, is arcuately curved to thereby form an outer circumferential wall of the path 14, projects its end 32a at the entrance to the path 14, said end 32a being adapted to fold a surplus end b of the packing paper b (FIG. 15) clamped into contact with the candy a and to bring the end b into contact with that surface of the candy a on the outer circumferential side, and has side wall portions 32c in about the middle of the path 14, said side wall portions 32c being bent so as to form both side walls of the member 32 and being formed with an inclined edge 32b adapted to form a surplus end b of the packing paper b which is being transferred.

The member 33, as shown likewise particularly in each of the above figures, is curved arcuately to thereby form the inner circumferential wall of said path 14 and is longitudinally formed with a slit 33a permitting the passage of the arm portions of the first clamping members 19 and 20 therethrough, projects its end 33b at the entrance to the path 14, said end 33b being adapted to fold a surplus end h of the packing paper b clamped into contact with the candy a and to bring the end b into contact with that surface of the candy a on the inner circumferential side and has side wall portions 33d in the terminal portion sides of the path 14, said side wall portions 33d being bent so as to form both side walls of the member 33 and being formed with an inclined edge 33c adapted to fold a surplus end b of the packing paper being transferred.

The members 34 and 35 are disposed so as to form side walls of the path 14 deep in the interior of the entrance to the path 14 and to function in such a manner that the members face their front ends 340 and 35a toward the entrance side, fold surplus ends b and b of the packing paper b which is being transferred and bring the ends into contact with both sides of the candy In this manner, the packing paper which is brought into contact with, and caused to clamp, the candy a as shown in FIG. l5-I by the first clamping members 19 and 20 in the terminal portion 8a of the feed channel 8 and which is transferred together with the candy a is folded at the surplus ends b and b as shown in FIGS. 9 and 15-lI, by the ends 32a and 33b of members 32 and 33 at the entrance to the first transfer path 14 to thereby bring the ends 32a and 33b into contact with each side of the candy a facing the outer and inner circumferential sides of the path 14 and is thereafter folded at the ends b and b as shown in FIG. 15-II by the ends 34a and 35b of the members 34 and 35 to thereby bring the ends b and b into contact with each side of the candy a facing both sides of the path 14.

Furthermore, in approximately the middle of the path 14, the surplus end b produced by the above folding and shown in FIG. 15-II is folded as shown in FIG. 15-11 by the inclined edge 32b of the member 32, and then a similarly folded end b is folded as shown in FIG. 15-III by the inclined edge 330 of the member 33 and is transferred to the terminal of the path 14 and released from clamping by the first clamping members 19 and 20.

The candy a which was clamped into contact with a takeout turret l5 and transferred along the first path 14 and over which the packing paper b was folded as described during its transfer reaches the terminal of the path 14, namely, a point of connection between the transfer path 14 and a second transfer path 38 formed in succession thereto, whereat the candy a is released from clamping by the turret 15 and is simultaneously therewith clamped by a relay transfer turret 40 rotated synchronously with the turret 15 and is transferred along the second transfer path 38.

The relay transfer turret 40, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and more particularly in FIGS. 7 and 8, is fixed through bolts 41b to the end face of a cap nut 41a threadedly fixed to a shaft 41 driven by a drive mechanism 16 in the device, and includes a second turret base 42 counterclockwise rotated in synchronism with the first turret base 18, plural pairs of second clamping members 43 and 44 pivotally supported at equal spaces on the circumference of the side of the base 42, and second cam mechanisms 45. and 46 for closing and opening and reciprocally moving the members 43 and 44 by rotation of the base 42. Bolts receiving holes 42a for permitting the insertion of bolts 41b therethrough for securing the second turret base 42 to said nut 41a are provided in the form of slots formed circumferentially as shown. Each of the slots 42a is useful for adjusting that position in which the second clamping members 43 and 44 synchronize with the first clamping members 19 and 20.

Cylinders 47 are fixed by bolts 42b to the base 42 at equal spaces on the circumference of the base 42. A cylinder shaft 49 rotatably supported through a bearing 48 on each of the cylinders 47 is inserted through each of the cylinders 47 and a bracket 50 is mounted through a key 41a at the end of the cylinder shaft 49.

And one member 43 of the clamping members 43 and 44 is fixed to the bracket 50 and projects, while the other member 44 is pivotally mounted by a shaft 51 to the bracket 50 so as to open and close with respect to the member 43.

A gear 52 is fixed to the other end of the cylinder shaft, said gear 52 being brought into engagement with a gear 54 pivotally attached through a shaft 53 to the back of the aforestated base 42.

Furthermore, a sliding rod 55 is slidably and axially inserted also through the cylinder shaft 49, and a rack 55a formed at the end of each rod 55 is.brought into engagement with a sector gear portion 44a formed on the base of the movable side member 44 of the clamping members 43 and 44. And the rod 55 is urged by a spring 56 in the direction of the member 43 in which the member 44 is closed, and the end 55b of the rod 55 is brought into slidable contact with a face cam 45 of the second cam mechanisms.

On the other hand, a roller 58 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 57 protrudently provided in the eccentric position of the gear 54 and is fitted into a grooved cam 46 of the second cam mechanisms.

The earns 45 and 46 are fixedly provided on a housing fixed through a holder 59 to the frame 4, and accordingly the second clamping members 43 and 44 are controlled by the cams 45 and 46 in accordance with rotation of the second turret base 42 and make reciprocating movement together with the cylinder shaft 49 at a certain angle of rotation (90 in the embodiment shown), and the closing and opening of the member 46 by sliding of the slidng rod 55 is carried out. The numeral 60 designates a bearing that pivotally supports the end of a shaft 41 on the holder 59. Namely, the second clamping members 43 and 44 supported by the bracket 50 of the cylinder shaft 49 are rotated counterclockwise around the shaft 41 of the base 42 by the counterclockwise rotation of the second turret base 42, and when they reached the aforestated point of connection 39, they face their clamp portions toward a second transfer path 38 and advance along the path 38. On the other hand, a sliding rod 55 whose sliding is controlled by the face cam 45 in accordance with the above counterclockwise rotation slides on a high portion 45a of the face cam 45 until the member 44 reaches the point of connection 39, and is caused to project to the left in FIG. 8 and keeps the member 44 released with respect to the member 43, but as soon as the second clamping members 43 and 44 reach the point of connection 39, the rod 55 drops into the low portion 45b of the face cam 45 by the action of the spring 56. Accordingly, the member 44 that brings a sector gear portion 44a into engagement with the rack 55b moved toward the member 43 and closes the clamp portions.

The attitude of rotation of the cylinder shaft 49 is controlled by the grooved cam 46 through the gear 54 with which a gear 52 of the shaft 49 meshes and through a roller 58 on the gear 54. Namely, the attitude of the cylinder shaft 49 is so designed that the roller 58 rolls within the high portion 46a of the grooved cam 46 until the clamping members 43 and 44 reach the point of connection 39 and that the clamping members 43 and 44 lie on the radius line of the second turret base 42 with the member 44 of the clamping members 43 and 44 positioned on the outer diameter side of the base 42 and with the member 43 positioned on the inner diameter side of the base 42. Accordingly, the closing operation of the member 44 at the point of connection 39 is carried out along the radius line, and the candy a which had packing paper b folded on its four sides by the rakeout turret l and which was transferred to the point of connection 39 is clamped in different positions by the second clamping members 43 and 44 which described operate under control of the face cam 45 and grooved cam 46, said different positions clamped by the members 43 and 44 being the portions intersecting at right angles with those portions of the candy a which the first clamping members 19 and 20 clamped, and at the same time therewith, the candy a is released, as described, from clamping by the members l9 and 20 and is transferred to the second transfer path 38 by a relay transfer turret 40.

Immediately after the second clamping members 43 and 44 clamped the candy a on the outside surface of the folded packing paper at the point of connection 39, the roller 58 is transferred from the high portion 46a of the grooved cam 46 to the low portion 460 through an inclined portion 46b by the continued counterclockwise rotation of the second turret base 42. Accordingly, the gear 54 is rotated clockwise to thereby rotate the cylinder shaft 49 counterclockwise through 90 via the gear 52 to change the attitude of the shaft 49 and to face the unfolded portions b and b of packing paper (see FIG. 15-III) to the outer circumferential side of the second transfer path 38.

On the other hand, the sliding rod 55 slides along the low portion b of the face cam 45 and makes the second clamping members 43 and 44 keep their clamping of the candy a until the second clamping members 43 and 44 which rotated through 90 with the candy a clamped therebetween reach the immediate neighborhood of the terminal portion of the second transfer path 38. And immediately before reaching the terminal portion of the path 38, the sliding rod slides on the inclined portion 450 of the face cam 45, and is caused to project to the left in FIG. 8 to thereby move the clamping member 44 that brings the sector gear 44a into meshing with the rack 55a in direction in which the member 44 opens its clamp portion and to make the member 44 release at the terminal portion the clamping of the candy a that finished its packing.

The sliding rod 55 is transferred from the inclined portion 45c of the face cam 45 to the low portion 45b thereof by the second turret base 42 being further rotated, and transfers the second clamping member 44 to a released position away the greatest distance from the clamping member 43, and the roller 58 is transferred from the low portionn 46c of the grooved cam 46 through a connection portion 46d to the high portion 46a thereof and, meantime, rotates the cylinder shaft 49 clockwise through 90 via gears 54 and 52 to thereby return the shaft 49 to the attitude which it took before clamping.

Namely, in the counterclockwise rotation of the second turret base 42 in synchronism with the rotation of the first turret base 18, each pair of second clamping members 43 and 44 pivotally supported at equal spaces on the circumference of the turret base 42 clamp at the point of connection 39 the candy a, which is clamped by each pair of clamping members 19 and 20, on the outside surface of the packing paper b in those positions of the candy a intersecting at right angles with those portions of the candy a which the members 19 and 20 clamp, and receive the candy a from the first clamping members 19 and 20 and are then caused to rotate through 90 to change their clamping attitude and to transfer the candy a along the second transfer path 38 and are returned to the attitude they took before clamping after having released their clamping at the terminal of the path 38.

A swing member 62 and second folding members 65 and 66 are arranged on the second transfer path 38,

said swing member 62 being adapted to fold that surplus end b of packing paper b projecting behind the candy a in the direction of advance of the candy a turned about by the change in attitude made by counterclockwise rotation of the clamping members 43 and 44, said second folding members 65 and 66 forming said second transfer path 38 and being adapted to fold other surplus ends b, and b of the packing paper b.

The swing member 62 is fixed through a bolt 64, etc. to a shaft 63 that is caused to make reciprocating arcuate movement through a mechanism (not shown) in synchronism with rotation of the second turret base 42, and faces its ax-shaped bent portion 62a toward the outer circumference of the path 38 as shown in FIG. 9 so as to be moved in cooperation with the ends 65a of a second folding member 65. Namely, the swing member 62, in the clockwise rotation in its reciprocating arcuate rotation, folds the surplus end b-, of the packing paper b projecting beyond the outside circumferential side of the path 38 over the open surface of a piece of candy a from behind by the ax-shaped bent portion 62a, said piece of candy a being clamped, turned about and advanced by the second clamping members 43 and 44, and retreats counterclockwise from the candy a.

Second folding members 65 and 66 comprises a member 65 and an arcuately bent member 66, said member 65 having its end 65a faced toward the position to which the ax-shaped bent portion 62a proceeds clockwise, said arcuately bent member 66 holding the member 65 through a holder 67 and forming the sides of the path 38 out of two side edges 66a and being fixed by means of a bracket 68 to the frame 4. The member 65, simultaneously with folding of the surplus end b of packing paper b by the swing member 62, folds by the counterclockwise advance of the second clamping members 43 and 44 the other surplus end b over that outside surface of the portion in which the surplus end b was bent by the ends 65a of the member 65.

The folding member 65 is formed into a groove shape as shown in FIGS. 9, l3 and 14, and comprises the aforestated two side edges 65a and a bottom plate 660 having a V-shaped inclined edge 66b formed thereon in succession to the member 65. The member 65 folds internally of the candy a by the inclined edge 66b the bent surplus ends b projecting, as shown in FIG.. IV, on both sides of surplus ends b and b during the advance of the candy a along the transfer path 38, said bent surplus ends b being produced by the surplus ends b and b being folded by the swing member 62 and the member 65, and finishes packing of the candy as shown in FIG. l5-V and guides the packed candy a to the terminal portion of the path 38. The packed candy a is released from clamping at the terminal portion of the second transfer path 38 as already stated.

Immediately below the terminal portion of the second transfer path 38, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, is arranged a receiving portion of an aligning transfer mechanism 69 which receives the packed pieces of candy a laterally, groups the same by a specified quantity and pushes out the grouped lots horizontally one after another.

The aligning transfer mechanism 69 comprises a guide base 70 as shown in section in FIG. 8, sprockets 71 driven at a specified ratio of speed to the turret bases 18 and 42 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an endless chain belt 72 stretched over the sprockets 71, a push feed rod 73 pivotally supported at specified spaces on the chain belt 72, and a guide bar 74 fixedly arranged for regulating the attitude of the push feed rod 73.

The guide base includes a guide edge 70a and a slit 70b, said edge 70a receiving laterally (in the state in which the longitudinal direction of candy intersects at right angles with the direction in which the candy is transferred) the piece of candy a released from its clamping by the second clamping members 43 and 44 and regulating the direction of transfer of the piece of candy a,, said slit 70b permitting the projection and movement of the push feed rod 73 therethrough, and receives the pieces of candy a at the terminal portion of the second transfer path 38 as shown in FIG. 1.

Each of the push feed rods 73 is formed into an L- shape as shown and is pivotally mounted by a pin 73a at equal spaces on the end less chain belt'72, and when it reaches the initial end 740 of the guide bar 74 by driving of the chain belt 72, the rod 73 presses a tail end portion 73b of the rod 73 into contact with the guide bar 74 and is caused to stand up and, while sliding the tail end portion 73b on the guide bar 74, groups a certain number of pieces of candy a on the guide base 70, pushes the grouped pieces of candy a toward the right in the drawing and, because the tail end portion 73b of the rod 73 is disengaged from the terminal 74b of the guide bar 74, is turned counterclockwise around the pin 73a on its own weight and finishes the pushing in the state of the rod 73 being suspended from the chain belt 72.

In the position in which the transfer mechanism 69 finishes the aforestated push feed operation is disposed a grouping guide channel 75 in such a position in which it intersects at right angles with the direction of transfer of the aligning transfer mechanism 69. The channel 75 receives thereinto the pieces of candy a grouped and aligned by a specified quantity inthe state of the pieces of candy a having been grouped and aligned. The push feed rod 73, as described, is guided by the guide bar 74 so as to cease push feed in the position in which the rod 73 pushed the aligned pieces of candy 11 into the channel 75.

Within the guide channel 75 is disposed a separating swing plate 76 intersecting at right angles with the channel 75, and the swing plate 76, with the middle of the support arm 76a thereof pivotally supported at 77 on the frame 4, brings a cam roller 78 at the tail end of the support arm 76a through a spring, etc. (not shown) into rotatable contact with a cam 79 rotatable by a. mechanism (not shown) in synchronism with each specified quantity feeding cycle of the aligning transfer mechanism 60, swings the swing plate 76 along the guide channel 75 by the roller 78 rolling along the circumference of the cam 78, and transfers the aligned pieces of candy a fed into the guide channel 75 in the longitudinal direction of the channel 75 in the state of the pieces of candy a having been aligned, and transfers the packed pieces of candy a to a box loading station.

Thus, this invention makes it possible not only to pack individual pieces of candy a, group and align the packed pieces of candy in specified numbers on an allatuomatic basis but also to pave the way to automatic loading of candy in a box.

I claim:

1. A packing and aligning device for candy of square columnar hexahedron, said device comprising, in combination:

a rotary disk for receiving alarge number-of collectively thrown pieces of candy on the surface of the disk rotating horizontally 3;, Q 7

a guide channel disposed on. the circumference of said disk and designed to receive and transfer the pieces of candy on the disk in longitudinal alignment; i

a feed channel for receiving pieces of candy from said guide channel into which they were 'received; said feed channel being formed in the side of the terminal thereof with an opening for taking out candy and with a receiving portion fronting said opening and adapted to receive packing paper out into a specified size thereinto, and being further formed below said terminal portion and in the side opposite to said opening with a crossing path permitting the passage of a member clamping said candy therethrough;

packing paper feed means for cutting packing paper into a specified size and feeding the same to said packing paper receiving portion, said means including a mechanism for unrolling a long roll of packing paper and cutting said packing paper into specified lengths;

a takeout turret for clamping the pieces of candy in the terminal portion of said feed channel one by one together with the packing paper and transferring the candy thus clamped together with the paper along a first transfer path, said turret including a first turret base rotating at constant speed in the direction in which it crosses said feed channel, plural pairs of first clamping members pivotally supported at equal spaces on the circumference of said base and adapted to clamp said candy together with packing paper by the clamp portions thereof, and a set of first cam mechanism for controlling each of said clamping members so that the members make closing and opening operation in the direction of rotation of said base by rotation of the base, carry out said clamping in the terminal portion of said feed channel, and release said clamping at the terminal of said first transfer path;

first folding members positioned along the inner and outer circumferences and on both sides of said first transfer path and adapted for successively bending surplus ends of packing paper over the four sides adjacent to the front side of the piece of candy facing the inner and outer circumferences and both sides of said first transfer path, said surplus ends of packing paper being the surplus ends of the packing paper brought into clamped contact with the front side of said piece of candy;

a relay transfer turret for clamping at the terminal of the first transfer path the piece of candy clamped by said takeout turret, transferring the same along a second transfer path, and releasing said clamping at the terminal of the path, said turret including a second turret base rotating in synchronism with the first turret base, plural pairs of second clamping members pivotally supported at equal spaces on the circumference of said base and adapted to clamp the piece of candy in the terminal portion of the first transfer path, said piece of candy being clamped by said first clamping members, in the di-.

rection intersecting at right angles with the direction in which said first clamping members open and adapted to receive said piece of candy from the first clamping members, and second cam mechanisms for operating opening and closing of said clamping members at a specified position by rotation of said second turret base and for rotating said second clamping members, which clamped the piece of candy at said specified position, immediately after the members clamped the piece of candy and then changing the direction of transfer vof the piece of candy;

swing member positioned on the outer circumference of said second transfer path and adapted to swing in synchronism with rotation of said each turret base and to fold a surplus end of packing paper behind the piece of candy, said surplus end of packing paper projecting behind the direction of advance of the piece of candy which was changed in the direction of transfer by said cam mechanisms;

second folding members positioned on the outer circumference side of said second transfer path and adapted to fold over the folded surplus end of said front side a surplus end of packing paper on the front side of the piece of candy being transferred and then to fold the folded surplus ends jutting out on both folded sides internally and longitudinally of the piece of candy; and

an aligning and transfer mechanism designed to receive in a laterally aligned state the packed pieces of candy released at the terminal of said second transfer path from clamping by the relay transfer turret and to group, push and feed said packed pieces of candy by each specified quantity.

2. A device according to claim 1 comprising guide and transfer mechanisms designed to receive groups of pieces of candy packed in each specified quantity and being grouped and pushed in lateral alignment by said aligning and transfer mechanism and to transfer each group of packed pieces of candy in the direction intersecting at right angles with the direction of transfer of said aligning and transfer mechanism, said mechanisms feeding said each group of pieces of candy to a box loading station.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said rotary disk has a gently conically inclined plane, moves collectively thrown pieces of candy onto the disk by the gravity of the candy and rotating force of the disk in the direction of the outer circumference of the disk, aligns the pieces of candy in longitudinal alignment along the outer circumferential wall and transfers the candy in the direction of rotation of the disk.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein saicli guide channel comprises an inside wall disposed on the outer circumference of said rotary disk and also functioning as an outside wall of said disk, an outside wall formed further outside of said inside wall and forming a path between the outside wall and the inside wall, along which path pieces of candy are transferred in longitudinal alignment, and a rotary bottom plate forming a bottom wall of the rotary disk and rotating in a specified direction.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said feed channel extends in succession to said guide channel tangentially of said rotary disk.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein said first cam mechanism comprise cams imparting specified opening and closing operation to one member of said pair of first clamping members and a grooved cam imreceives packed pieces of candy in lateral alignment thereon, said packed pieces of candy being released at the terminal of said second transfer path from clamping by the relay transfer turret, plural push feed rods pivotally supported at equal spaces on an endless sprocket chain and driven in one direction, and a guide bar designed to regulate the attitude of said feed rods and to face the rods onto the surface of the guide base. 

1. A packing and aligning devicE for candy of square columnar hexahedron, said device comprising, in combination: a rotary disk for receiving a large number of collectively thrown pieces of candy on the surface of the disk rotating horizontally; a guide channel disposed on the circumference of said disk and designed to receive and transfer the pieces of candy on the disk in longitudinal alignment; a feed channel for receiving pieces of candy from said guide channel into which they were received, said feed channel being formed in the side of the terminal thereof with an opening for taking out candy and with a receiving portion fronting said opening and adapted to receive packing paper cut into a specified size thereinto, and being further formed below said terminal portion and in the side opposite to said opening with a crossing path permitting the passage of a member clamping said candy therethrough; packing paper feed means for cutting packing paper into a specified size and feeding the same to said packing paper receiving portion, said means including a mechanism for unrolling a long roll of packing paper and cutting said packing paper into specified lengths; a takeout turret for clamping the pieces of candy in the terminal portion of said feed channel one by one together with the packing paper and transferring the candy thus clamped together with the paper along a first transfer path, said turret including a first turret base rotating at constant speed in the direction in which it crosses said feed channel, plural pairs of first clamping members pivotally supported at equal spaces on the circumference of said base and adapted to clamp said candy together with packing paper by the clamp portions thereof, and a set of first cam mechanism for controlling each of said clamping members so that the members make closing and opening operation in the direction of rotation of said base by rotation of the base, carry out said clamping in the terminal portion of said feed channel, and release said clamping at the terminal of said first transfer path; first folding members positioned along the inner and outer circumferences and on both sides of said first transfer path and adapted for successively bending surplus ends of packing paper over the four sides adjacent to the front side of the piece of candy facing the inner and outer circumferences and both sides of said first transfer path, said surplus ends of packing paper being the surplus ends of the packing paper brought into clamped contact with the front side of said piece of candy; a relay transfer turret for clamping at the terminal of the first transfer path the piece of candy clamped by said takeout turret, transferring the same along a second transfer path, and releasing said clamping at the terminal of the path, said turret including a second turret base rotating in synchronism with the first turret base, plural pairs of second clamping members pivotally supported at equal spaces on the circumference of said base and adapted to clamp the piece of candy in the terminal portion of the first transfer path, said piece of candy being clamped by said first clamping members, in the direction intersecting at right angles with the direction in which said first clamping members open and adapted to receive said piece of candy from the first clamping members, and second cam mechanisms for operating opening and closing of said clamping members at a specified position by rotation of said second turret base and for rotating said second clamping members, which clamped the piece of candy at said specified position, immediately after the members clamped the piece of candy and then changing the direction of transfer of the piece of candy; a swing member positioned on the outer circumference of said second transfer path and adapted to swing in synchronism with rotation of said each turret base and to fold a surplus end of packing paper behind the piece of candy, said surplus end of packing paper projecting behind the direction of advance of thE piece of candy which was changed in the direction of transfer by said cam mechanisms; second folding members positioned on the outer circumference side of said second transfer path and adapted to fold over the folded surplus end of said front side a surplus end of packing paper on the front side of the piece of candy being transferred and then to fold the folded surplus ends jutting out on both folded sides internally and longitudinally of the piece of candy; and an aligning and transfer mechanism designed to receive in a laterally aligned state the packed pieces of candy released at the terminal of said second transfer path from clamping by the relay transfer turret and to group, push and feed said packed pieces of candy by each specified quantity.
 2. A device according to claim 1 comprising guide and transfer mechanisms designed to receive groups of pieces of candy packed in each specified quantity and being grouped and pushed in lateral alignment by said aligning and transfer mechanism and to transfer each group of packed pieces of candy in the direction intersecting at right angles with the direction of transfer of said aligning and transfer mechanism, said mechanisms feeding said each group of pieces of candy to a box loading station.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said rotary disk has a gently conically inclined plane, moves collectively thrown pieces of candy onto the disk by the gravity of the candy and rotating force of the disk in the direction of the outer circumference of the disk, aligns the pieces of candy in longitudinal alignment along the outer circumferential wall and transfers the candy in the direction of rotation of the disk.
 4. A device according to claim 1 wherein saidi guide channel comprises an inside wall disposed on the outer circumference of said rotary disk and also functioning as an outside wall of said disk, an outside wall formed further outside of said inside wall and forming a path between the outside wall and the inside wall, along which path pieces of candy are transferred in longitudinal alignment, and a rotary bottom plate forming a bottom wall of the rotary disk and rotating in a specified direction.
 5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said feed channel extends in succession to said guide channel tangentially of said rotary disk.
 6. A device according to claim 1 wherein said first cam mechanism comprise cams imparting specified opening and closing operation to one member of said pair of first clamping members and a grooved cam imparting specified opening and closing operation to the other member.
 7. A device according to claim 1 wherein said second cam mechanisms comprise a face cam imparting specified opening and closing operation to one member of said pair of second clamping members and a grooved cam imparting specified rotation to said clamping members.
 8. A device according to claim 1 wherein said aligning and transfer mechanism comprises a guide base that receives packed pieces of candy in lateral alignment thereon, said packed pieces of candy being released at the terminal of said second transfer path from clamping by the relay transfer turret, plural push feed rods pivotally supported at equal spaces on an endless sprocket chain and driven in one direction, and a guide bar designed to regulate the attitude of said feed rods and to face the rods onto the surface of the guide base. 